Longtime attorney and community leader, Parker F. Moon, departed this life "when the whistle blew" on September 4, 2003. Son of attorney Fred A. Moon and Clara B. (Parker) Moon. Named after his maternal grandfather, Charles Bateman Parker, an inventor and patent holder. Parker will be remembered as a loving father, devoted husband, and as a respected attorney who dedicated his life to helping his clients with their journey through the legal system. Although born into a professional family, he learned the value of hard work at an early age, including farm work and running a trap line before he arrived at school, which earned him the name of "Trapper Moon." He attended Greenwood Laboratory School where he played football. He graduated from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College and the University of Missouri, School of Law. Before entering law school, he was employed during the depression with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and as an assistant Bacteriologist for the city of Springfield. Admitted to the practice of law by the Missouri Supreme Court on April 11, 1942, also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Western District of Missouri and the Supreme Court of the United States. His law practice was varied and colorful including handling several high profile criminal cases as defense counsel and an extensive divorce practice where he established many of the forms still used by local attorneys for their domestic cases. Parker was one of the original organizers of the Springfield Boys and Girls Club and worked extensively with the youth at St. John's Episcopal Church where he served for several years as Sunday School Superintendant. He was also a Cub Scout pack leader and troop leader for the Boy Scouts Troop 29. He was a longtime member of Hickory Hills Country Club and loved his Thursday afternoons which were reserved for his golf foursome and sometimes fivesome consisting of his brother-in-law, Col. Harry F. Kirkpatrick, Col. Robert (Bob) Durst, Dr. Don Silsby and Mr. Harold Stoneman. Parker was united in marriage in 1933 to Zilpha Loretta Mertel. After 67 years of marriage, Zilpha predeceased him on December 3, 1999. Parker had been her devoted caregiver during her battle with Alzheimers disease. Parker is survived by daughter, Celeste Elizabeth (Moon) Groce and her husband, attorney, Robert V. Groce, and son, attorney, Fred Charles Moon, and his wife Marilynn S. Moon. Survived by his grandson, attorney, Steven Fred Groce, his grandson, John Parker Moon, and his grand daughter, attorney, Shari Kathryn DeArmon and by two great-grandchildren, Samantha JoAnn DeArmon and Nicholas R. DeArmon. Also survived by his companion Marie McMullin, and good friends Delores Evens and Helen Heidrich. Parker was predeceased by his brothers, Dr. Robert J. Moon, attorney, Charles A. Moon, attorney, William A. Moon, and a sister Catherine E. Wickizer. He always tried to find the good in other people and was never critical of others. His favorite advice when confronted with a situation where someone was criticizing another was, "If you can't say something good about them, then don't say anything." He was a man with a deep abiding faith in his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and in his last hours was heard praying for his caregivers rather than himself. Internment in Greenlawn Cemetery North. In lieu of flowers, the family would request that memorial contributions be made to the Henderson Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, 1410 N. Fremont, Springfield, MO 65802. "Pax vobiscum" Parker, the world is a better place because of your life.